49ers take chance on ex-Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area was the first to report this signing. Here’s a quick look at one of the notable names among the 49ers’ undrafted rookie free agents.

Jeremiah Masoli, who played at City College of San Francisco before a scandal-plagued NCAA career, is among the undrafted free agents to sign with the 49ers.

Masoli, now 22, helped lead Oregon to a Pac-10 Conference title and a Rose Bowl berth with a stellar 2009. He threw for 2,147 yards and 15 touchdowns that season and also rushed for 668 yards and 13 touchdowns.

But two brushes with the law ended his Ducks career. First, Masoli pled guilty to misdemeanor second-degree burglary charges on March 12, 2010 after he and teammate Garrett Embry were accused of stealing two laptop computers and a guitar from a fraternity house. That earned him a season-long suspension from Oregon Coach Chip Kelly.

He reemerged at the University of Mississippi, using a loophole that allowed him to enter the school as a graduate student. Last season he became the first Ole Miss quarterback since Archie Manning (1969) to throw for at least 100 yards and rush for at least 100 yards in the same game.

He finished ranked seventh in the SEC in total offense with 215.2 yards per game.

Daniel Brown

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Is he a WR or QB? The article and title seem to be talking about two different positions.

VinceN

Receiver? Thought he was a qb

overthemiddle

Dont care about the pot and driving problems but a thief is a thief and we are not counting on all the other stuff he stole that he didnt get caught for. I hoping the niners only need him for an extra arm. I live here in Oregon and have watched the Ducks for many years. Masoli is not a mans man he is a thief. University of Mississippi stuped to a new low allowing Masoli to play. No wonder these young people have so many problems they arent held accountable for their actions. Bull****!!!!!!

Daniel Brown

Thanks, Robert and VinceN — headline is fixed.

Niners4ever

Give him a chance…
I was pretty disgusted to hear that someone could throw so much away by doing something so stupid.
I ran across this article today http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/07/27/masoli/index.html
After reading it I think this kid might just need some good guidance in his life. Lets see what he can do to prove himself as a solid citizen.
Go Niners!!

Ole Miss by Damn

Overthemiddle: stop hatin when you don’t know the facts of his case…Oregon fan eh??? And you didn’t take the time to read what SI.com wrote about how Kelly handled that whole fiasco…the kid was railroaded by the DA and he took a plea deal, even though he didn’t take a thing, check the police reports….no evidence or witnesses that saw him steal – only Embry was fingered and he let Masoli take the fall. The dude took you guys to the Pac-10 Championship and the Rose Bowl! Didn’t you read what Thomas told reporters, he took the fall for the weed in the car! Off you high horse before you fall flat on your face.

Also note: it was NOT a felony, he took a plea deal vs. the risk of losing in court…people face that more than you know. Misdemeanor, check your facts: http://www.jeremiahmasoli.net

mglt6710

Great, just what the Niners need, another potential Malcontent.

Have not T.O. and Randy Moss taught the teams that they have signed with, time and time again, that Talent does not override other considerations, like team fit and overall character? I am sure that Masoli is talented, but at what price? The guy basically slammed doors shut throughout his college career, and not in minor ways, either. I guess that, in Harbaugh’s mind, he can “control” Masoli. I am sure that, bright guy that he is, Harbaugh sees something in Masoli that the rest of us don’t, and is willing to work with him. Hope he’s right, all it takes is one rotten apple — remember T. O.

steve

This is basically his one shot. Sometimes people can be greatly motivated if they realize this.

Or he could just be another Lawrence Phillips or Maurice Clarett.

We’ll know pretty quickly, my guess is he doesn’t make it past the pre season.

Getouttamykitchen

Ole miss, you need to check your own shit. This kid is a thug, and always will be. Taking a fall? Mannn… This dude had a record before he even set foot on Oregon campus. He aint gonna play a lick. Well check up on ol’ jeremiah in about two years, im sure he’ll be ok flippin burgers at BK.

G Man

Hey Ole Miss Man..thanks for the real score..Ole Miss..by the way..has THE most gorgeous girls in the college universe..

I have NO idea why the 49ers took Massoli..however..Harbaugh will sort it out. None of you know whether he’s a “malcontent” or just a kid who has great athletic talent and needs a chance. Let’ see!

nw49er

I will assume they are signing him and comtemplating making him a WR. At QB he is just like Steve Young, but without the skills, work ethic, integrity, and intelligence.

Nukea$finest

Rumor has it that Hasselbeck is interested in signing with SF. Not a great player anymore but he is experienced in the WCO and if weve learned anything from last year you should never put all your eggs in Alex Smith’s basket.

Bdub

bye bye takeo

Jacob Wang

Jon Wilner’s College Hotline blog was all over Masoli’s story at Oregon

latopia

Masoli may not be Pacman Jones, gangsta or some flavor of bada$$ perp, but he also isn’t misunderstood and hardly a vic [ http://on-msn.com/p4omXd ]

He *is*, according to his record, at least guilty of VERY poor, potentially VERY dangerous decision-making with extremely POOR instincts, recognition and/or impulse control regarding the avoidance of trouble & troubled friends.

Like someone said, he’s not much risk as a camp arm. But if the 9ers envision him as something more, they’d better be prepared for the *costs* of worst & best outcomes.

Zeus

You people don’t know anything. Always want to put someone down!! I know him personally and he is a good man, did he get in trouble before, yes, but if you don’t know the story or the evidence of his arrest in Oregon and won’t take the time to read about them then you shouldn’t comment!! As for him flipping burgers “Kitchen”, if he doesn’t make the NFL he will still have a better job then you and he will be playing ball somewheres else!! I can guarantee that. Sounds like your just a hater! Also if he does make it and puts up numbers, everyone of you if your a Niners fan will jump on the bandwagon. That’s just how haters are, its sad!!

FLEX74

Nobody is perfect, stop the hate,the niners pick Masoli because they see something in him.the kid can play,why not give him chance.there are lot of players out their that been through the same situation or did worst.the lockout is done,what more you can ask for,STOP THE HATE,and get ready for some football…..

FLEX74

Nobody is perfect, stop the hate,the niners pick Masoli because they see something in him.the kid can play,why not give him a chance.there are alot of players out their that been through the same situation or did worst.the lockout is done,what more you can ask for,STOP THE HATE, and get ready for some football…..

snarkk

This guy is more mechanical at the Qb position than Alex, which is hard to do. Adds nothing to the QB depth chart, maybe he’ll try to be a smallish WR. The let Nate Davis go for this? I would not hold out a lot of hope he’ll make the squad…

gw

Thanks very much niners4ever for that article. It’s one of the best articles I’ve read of that type–it is extremely fair in trying to present both sides of a difficult story. After reading it, I’m going to root hard for Masouli to succeed. The worst that can be said for him is that he didn’t have the courage to stand up and speak out when he should have. Fear and a desire to not make waves often make us do things we will end up regretting forever; I know that personally and I hope never to fall into that trap again, but it has happened in my past. He comes across as anything but a thug and seems to be well-liked and respected by teammates.
The marijauna issue really comes down to where one stands on this particular substance–personally I think I’d prefer someone who occasionally tokes up than someone who uses alcohol frequently, but that’s just me.
Whether he’s good enough to add something to the team with regards to skills, I can’t say; I’d say practice squad or third stringer if no vet is picked up, but I’d prefer him any day over Carr.

Hatersmidiator

@ the self rightoues commentors, at the end of the day your oppinons dont mean squat nil. don’t you know the beautiful game football has more than half of its players with criminal backgrounds and some with what paraprofessionals would say with minor to sever mh issues? football is beautifull because its a place for opportunity and second chances, infact football in my experience changed alot of lives for especially for Americans who are marginalized, outcast, people who are seen and treated as second class citizen.

I’m smiling and congratulate Jeremaiah Masoli my Samoan brother, I have a bigger smile because everyone on here will be either cheering against or cheering for Masoli when the season starts but you all will be cheering for Masoli, Masoli is now living his dreams, how about you?!.

9ER4life

I’m happy for the kid. Only in America you get a second chance, and that’s the beauty of this country and what it represents. That’s why a lot of us give our lives to serve. There’s a saying what goes around comes around, everyone that threw him under the bus for an easy fixed; god works in mysterious ways. in the Samoan beliefs, if your guilty of something and never admit to it, sooner or later it will come out in the open if not you will pay for it, for the rest of your life whether is financial hardship, health problem or whatever. They also believed that if accused or punished for some you didn’t do, good things will eventually come your way. Now i don’t if his guilty or not, but this I know. Since they kick him of Oregon he was the starting QB at OLE MISS, even if San Fran didn’t pick him up the UFL and the Canadian league was ready to offer him contracts, oh and Oregon lost the championship came. My two sons attended a football camp last week that he participated in. Beside all of this the main reason why San Fran went for him the kid has potential and can play football. Like coach Kelly said the kid is a baller, handle pressure well and is unflappable during crunch time. I wish him and the 49ers well.

WATCH HIM PLAY, AND EVERYTHING GOES OUT THE DOOR. ONCE HE SETTLES IN THE NFL, AND IS GIVEN A REAL CHANCE, YOU WILL SEE WHAT HE IS WORTH TO THE TEAM. ALEX SMITH IS THE 49ERS REAL PROBLEM. THATS A COACH KILLER. IF OUR NEW COACH DECIDES TO USE ALEX SMITH AGAIN, HE SHOULD BE BOOTED DOWN TO POP WARNER. WE COULD HAVE ACTUALLY MADE THE PLAYOFFS LAST YEAR IF WE NEVER USED ALEX….

http://jpelesauma@yahoo.com J.P.

Man know your facts before you judge Jeremiah Masoli.My Neph,He has a Degree to back his shit Up.now that he has a oppertunity with The S.F.49ers why hate.Give him a chance and i personally bet you he’s the “REAL DEAL”Best Wishes to J.M.and The S.F.49ers.2011 Season.